Arab Americans MUST help write their Party platforms
In every election since 1984, Arab Americans have run for and won positions as delegates to state and national party conventions. In those states that provided opportunities for delegates to write platforms, Arab Americans won victories, securing platform planks for Palestinian rights and Lebanon’s sovereignty; against profiling and discrimination; and guaranteeing civil liberties.
This year is no exception. In several states, Arab American delegates to the state conventions are involved in platform work. But now, the Barack Obama campaign and the Republican Party have presented all Americans with an opportunity to participate in a platform writing process.
The Arab American Institute has made it easy for you to host a successful event. Just follow these simple guidelines…
FIRST: Plan Your Plank Party
- Tell AAI if you’re hosting a Platform event, so we can send you buttons, posters, and other assets for your event. 202-429-9210 or cr@aaiusa.org
- Register with your party online:
- Assemble your guest list and decide if you will offer light snacks and refreshments; consider asking your local restaurants to donate!
- Where can you host the event to accommodate everyone? Consider:
- Condominium and apartment party rooms
- Community Centers, local library, local government center
- A coffee shop or Café
- Take advantage of the materials and forms AAI has created for you:
For Democrats:
For Republicans:
THEN: Invite Friends, Neighbors, and Colleagues.
HINT: Facebook; Myspace; Meetup; Evite are easy ways to reach out to your network; AAI has designed an easy invitation for you to download and customize with your party details. Be sure to follow up with your guest list by phone a few days before your event.
NEXT: Get your materials together.
Check List
- Meeting Agenda
- Sign-up Sheet
- Light Snacks & Refreshments
- Confirm your location and date
- Print the Yalla Vote National Declaration to distribute to your guests
- Voter Registration Forms
- Get your Arab American political assets from AAI
- Yalla Vote T-Shirts
- A large dry erase board or a large flip-chart paper, large markers and easel to help facilitate meeting.
- A pad of paper for notes
FINALLY! Host your Platform Plank Event
- Introduce yourself and your guests. Have them sign in
- Pass out your Agenda
- Explain the reason for the Party
- Establish ground rules (Consensus/Majority)
- Select issues to discuss
- Discuss issues
- Finalize position on issues
- Write issues as Platforms:
- Platforms are brief statements of general policy and/or direction and should be broad. The Yalla Vote Declaration is a good example of a platform—AAI recommends that you consider the Declaration and use its language to form your platform
- Read agreed upon language to guests
- Wrap up
AND THEN: Submit Information
- Submit your platforms to AAI at cr@aaiusa.org andto your party using these links:
Democrats: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/listening/
Republicans: http://www.gopplatform2008.com/intro.aspx
- Send a copy of your sign in sheet to AAI:
Arab American Institute
1600 K Street, NW Suite 601
Washington, DC 20006
or email cr@aaiusa.org
- Thank your guests.
Send thank you emails to your guests and share your pictures. Flickr is a great way to share photos, and AAI has created an Arab American Plank Party 08 group on Flickr to make it easy to share your photos
- Tell AAI your story
Write a short piece for the Yalla Vote blog on your Platform Party and send it along with your photos to cr@aaiusa.org
If you post your pictures on Flickr.com, be sure to add it to the Arab American Plank Party 08 group as well.
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